With the 2025 NFL season quick approaching, the South Florida Solar Sentinel takes a have a look at 10 storylines to look at for in a 10-part sequence forward of the Miami Dolphins’ first day of coaching camp, which is ready for July 22.
Miami Dolphins rookie defensive deal with Kenneth Grant faces a world of strain as a first-round choose. He’s anticipated to be a Day One starter and a significant contributor on a protection that completed No. 4 within the league final season and No. 9 towards the run.
Nevertheless, Grant, the No. 13 choose from Michigan who additionally performs nostril deal with, can take consolation in a single important truth — normal supervisor Chris Grier’s first-round picks have completed properly of their careers, and lots of did properly as rookies.
Grier has been accountable for the Dolphins drafts since 2016. In that span he’s made 11 first-round picks, together with Grant.Â
It’d be truthful to say eight of the ten first-rounders previous to Grant have been good choices.
The checklist of excellent first-round picks begins with left deal with Laremy Tunsil (2016) and continues with security Minkah Fitzpatrick (2018), defensive deal with Christian Wilkins (2019), quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (2020), proper deal with Austin Jackson (2020), extensive receiver Jaylen Waddle (2021), edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (2021) and edge rusher Chop Robinson (2024).
The 2 first-round picks in that span that didn’t end up properly are edge rusher Charles Harris (2017) and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (2020).
Grant already is aware of what’s anticipated from him as a Dolphins defensive lineman.
“We’ve bought to set the usual,” he stated. “We’ve bought to set the tone each day. Day by day in follow, each sport, no matter it’s — we’re the tone setters. We’ve bought to come back out and present all people what we’re about.”
Grant, a beefy 6-foot-3, 331-pound run stuffer, joins a run protection that ranked No. 9 within the league final 12 months and No. 7 in 2023.
He’ll be a part of a line of defense that features fellow deal with Zach Sieler, final 12 months’s staff MVP, and nostril deal with Benito Jones. Grant joins a defensive entrance seven that’s accomplished by edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips (and Robinson) and inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson.
Though the Dolphins offense will get the publicity, the protection has completed No. 4 and No. 10 within the league, respectively, prior to now two years so the usual is excessive. Apart from that, the secondary is comparatively inexperienced save for slot cornerback Kader Kohou and Minkah Fitzpatrick, the newly re-acquired Professional Bowl security.
So the defensive entrance seven needs to be the play-making crew, a minimum of early within the season. The veterans have made that clear to Grant.
“Every little thing we’re going to do is the best normal,” he stated. “Nothing we’re going to do is you’re half doing it. They’re making an attempt to get me to grasp that there’s an ordinary right here and I’ve bought to stay as much as it.”
Grant totaled 32 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss final season at Michigan, the nationwide champion in 2023. He performed alongside defensive deal with Mason Graham, the unanimous All-America who was chosen No. 5 by Cleveland, and at instances might need been misplaced in his shadow.
However Grant was a beast in his personal proper. He confirmed he may deal with double groups and use his heavy fingers to create area.
One in every of Grant’s missives with the Dolphins is changing defensive deal with Calais Campbell, the seemingly future Corridor of Famer who departed for Arizona in free company. Campbell, the runner-up to Sieler in final season’s MVP voting, was a staff chief.
Nobody expects Grant to switch Campbell instantly, or exchange him in each manner. However many, together with coach Mike McDaniel, are inspired from what they noticed throughout organized staff actions and minicamp.
“There’s been ebbs and flows like for each rookie,” McDaniel stated, “however what I’ve seen from him, I’ve seen early-down manufacturing the place he wins based mostly on approach and fundamentals early within the snap, and I’ve seen late-down wins the place he’s straining and using grit and end to make performs as properly.”
Grant was the primary inside defensive lineman the Dolphins drafted since defensive deal with Raekwon Davis (second spherical) in 2020. Previous to that it was Wilkins in 2019. And previous to that it was Davon Godchaux (fifth spherical) and Vincent Taylor (sixth spherical) in 2017.
So, it seems Grier hasn’t simply drafted properly within the first spherical, he’s additionally drafted properly with inside defensive lineman. In case you take note of tendencies, the longer term appears shiny for Grant.
Beforehand addressed
Can Dolphins’ Tua keep out of hurt’s manner and stay wholesome all season?
Chris Grier, Mike McDaniel or each? Who’s on Dolphins’ sizzling seat getting into 2025 season?
Is that this Tyreek Hill’s remaining season with the Dolphins?
